Tsubasa clutched her injured shoulder and her gaze darted to see if the others made it out as well.

Hideki had been practicing for the whole month, working on his dueling technique and practicing his sword strokes. It was kind of dull preparing the defense of the town, but it had to be done, and now the finishing touches were pretty much complete, so he and the rest of the people in the town just had to wait for the bandits to attack.

When Sanjuro woke him up, Hideki rose to the morning and went off to help with the others.

(time to come home you guys)

The village quickly awoke, and awited word on the preemptive strike. Kambei had strung his yumi and set his quiver in the dirt in the center of town. The Ashigaru troops arranged them selves into their squads and held their sharpened bamboo spears.

"Straighten up those lines." Kambei said. "Hideki-san, Benitora-san I want you to take the southern gate. Hide behind the wall and close off the gate after a few bandits have passed. Magagumo-san take your squad and gaurd the river.

Zenko wandered out of the forest, and towards the village. They had killed a few bandits, tourched their builidngs, and realeased their horses. He had to report in, as well as rest and get bandaged up.

Kambei and Toku listened to their tale.

"Very good Zenko-san." Kambei said. "I want you to take your squad and head to the north end of the village. Rest while you can. Tsubasa-san you will take the west. The rest will stay here with me. Do not leave the walls of the village. Get some rest we'll sound an alarm in case of attack."

(Those that went on the mission gain 1 point in stealth and .3 glory)

Tsubasa gathered a makeshift replacement for her lost Yari, hoping that the bandits would bring it with them when they came to attack. It was a good spear and Tsubasa wondered if she might be able to reclaim it later at the abandoned camp if they didn't bring it. No sense thinking about it until the invasion was halted, however, and Tsubasa tried to work around her injured shoulder, seeing what kinds of attacks didn't make her wound sting.

She sat down against the inner section of the wall, near the south gate, and prayed that they would be all the village needed, aside from its own training, to destroy the bandits.

Benitora walked among the peasant soldiers. Some of them were eager to see action. This was a fairly good sign. The majority was scared shitless, with the notable exception of one man who had been a disruptive heckler during his spear lessons. He was currently discovering exactly how much excrement his voided bowels would expel.

"We will stand a better chance of survival if we are united. Do not think - act as you have been trained over the past month. When we tell you to move, move. Your understanding is not required - only your compliance. They will not be expecting peasants like you to put up such resistance. This time, it is they who will be running in fear, not you."

Unsure of his effect of his speech upon the men, Benitora fell back to a spot where he could survey the gates and the area slightly beyond, then summoned the gate captain.

"What I told them applies to you as well. On my command, close the gates. Work swiftly."

Sanjuro's squad was different from most in that they carried weighted ropes in addition to spears. Sanjuro took position at the western wall. The creek burbled as the water passed on it's weigh to the mill. He climbed the hastily made barricade and looked over the plain for a sign of motion. He saw the dark line cut across the plains. Cavalry was fast approaching.

"OI!!! THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THE EAST!!!"

"HOLD YOUR POSITIONS!!!" Kamei ordered Toku climed the thatch roof of one of the farmers homes and planted a banner he had painted on it a wolf mon and nine circles. The banner flapped in the wind.

Tsubasa stood up as the alarm was sounded. "Hold your ground. I know you want to go there to help your friends but that will leave this side defenseless. Anyone of you who wishes to disregard this order will answer to me."

The thundering sound of cavalry grew and they rode toward the now destroyed bridge across the creek. Magagumo could smell them now, they were close enough. He took the black silk scarf and tied it around his face. He then put on his simple Kabuto and tied it to his head. He adjusted his breast plate, and the armored skirt over his Hakama.

"The bridge is out." they shouted. "There is a wall."

"Then go to the north. Find a way in." A bandit leader said. The thundering cavalry crossed the creek slowly and passed northward.

ooc: So every one is clear on their positions
East: Tsubasa
North: Zenko
West: Me
South: Benitora, Hideki
Center: Kambei, Toku, Matt, Tenshi